Spanco's overconfidence prolonged power failure
Ashish Roy, TNN | May 20, 2011

NAGPUR: One of the longest power failures suffered by Nagpurians could have been shorter had the franchisee Spanco sought the help of MSEDCL in restoring power supply in its area on Wednesday. As per the franchisee agreement, MSEDCL can step in the franchisee area if the consumers are put to severe convenience due to a power failure. However, neither Spanco nor MSEDCL contemplated this move.

Spanco's business head Rajinder Kachroo himself admitted on Thursday evening that the franchisee had been overconfident. "We have erred by not seeking MSEDCL's help. Spanco is an independent company and we had reckoned that we would be able to deal with the problem on our own. However, in the evening, we had sought help from MSEDCL but only a junior engineer was sent."

Kachroo admitted that he had not formally sought help from MSEDCL. Officials of MSEDCL cited this reason for not providing any help. As per the agreement, if Spanco avails MSEDCL's services, the expense incurred for restoration by the state-run company would be borne by the franchisee.

A senior MSEDCL official said that had the franchisee formally sought help from the company, it could have got the services of at least fifty experienced MSEDCL employees. "The situation in Congress Nagar and MIDC divisions was almost normal by Wednesday morning. Staff from other nearby divisions could have been called in," the official said.

MSEDCL authorities are also silent regarding whether they would set up an enquiry to determine if Spanco's failure to restore power supply was a major incident. The franchisee agreement defines it as a significant power interruption that impacts more than 10,000 consumers for more than 24 hours.

While Franchisee Virodhi Samiti claimed that a break down lasting 48 hours should lead to termination of franchisee agreement, MSEDCL officials that this clause was not applicable in this case as a storm had caused substantial damage to the power network.